Hi Hollycat, Yes there are many cancer forums out there. Go to bing.com, the new microsoft search engine, plug in "cancer forums" and the first page lists loads of forums. I didn't look at any of...
Today is day 4 of the first week. Things are going OK except for my wacko neighbor but that's another story. I have successfully adjusted to the first step of my 5 step program. I no long have the...
My new pain doc tells me that I am not a candidate for a spinal cord stim. He says they don't work well with midback axial spinal pain. He wouldn't put one in. I'm not forcing the issue. Got to drive...
Hi PALady, I don't think you need a fancy computer or browser to get to facebook. It's at facebook.com and it's free. You don't have to post a picture of yourself or any other personal info if you do...
Me, As with the others above, let me add how sorry I am this happened to you. You have good advice. See your doc and be truthful. I am sure things will work out for you. As for protecting meds, ever...
mrsm, I don't know what building skill levels you may be talking about but MidwestProducts.com has kits of all sorts from beginners to more advanced. My Coast Guard boat and the LobsterYacht are both...
Laurie, Thank you for the compliment! I started building models as a kid with my Dad. We had some great times together building model planes. This was back in the mid 50s before radio control. So the...
Today is day 2. The withdrawal stuff started it 3:00 am. I am already through half of my alloted dose and it isn't even noon. This may be a very long day. I think I may have to allow a slight...
Tony, You will find that after taking an opiod for a period of time the body develops a tolerance to the med and eventually you lose pain control effectiveness. So your doc ups the dosage to offset...
Don't misunderstand, the boat project is for a large radio controlled scale maodel boat. Accurate in most details. Not the real thing. I don't have pockets quite that deep! Modelmaker...
Grethen and Denim, Thanks for words of encouragement! It helps, it really does. As for keeping busy, not a problem. I am currently building a 1940s Chris Craft Barrelback speed boat. All mahogany. It...
Today is the first day of my self-imposed ramp down off of Oxycodone. I have set myself a schedule and reviewed it with my primary. He feels it is reasonable but wants to follow my progress. Last...
Tony, I, too, am a little confused by your question. I can tell you what happened with me. I retired on disability when I was 59. Because it was work related, my former employer agreed to let me...
Dani, I reread your post and I don't think I answered you completely. No, I don't believe that old doc was trying to hook patients in. I truly believe he thinks what he is doing is good medicine....
Dani, Thanks for your reply and concern. To answer your questions, the new doc was very surprised that any doc would prescribe that amount of oxy. He never would and said that most docs wouldn't. He...
Well, I saw the new pain doc today. Real nice guy. Very strong credentials and experience so I respect his opinion highly. His take at the end of our consultation was that he was cautious about...
I am going to see my new pain doc for the first time tomorrow (Thurs). I am somewhat apprehensive because I had been seeing my previous doctor for so many years. I am not sure how to approach this...
Tony, Congratulations!! Welcome to the First Try Club! I didn't use an attorney because I thought (was told) I would be rejected at least once. Got mine the first time also. You are correct that even...
Cassie, During one of my early back surgeries they put in stainless steel plates and screws to assist the fusion formation. Well it turns out I was alergic to the particular type of stainless steel...
Susie, I suffer the same problem with posture and walking. In my case, multiple fusions have left some of the back muscles atrophied because the fusion removes the need for and the ability to...
Good news! I was able to find a new PM doc. You may recall my incidents with the other doc leading up to a melt down (his meltdown) one day. As I said, I made the decision that day to end the...
Anice, I can't much more to all that has been said. I have endured four laminectomies with fusion and none were pleasant. All painful for a long time. I agree there are times, especially in the first...
Hello Classic, I agree with Morgoth. I am sure they will get to the fixing of your back problem but only after trying all available conservative methods first. In the meantime you will be in some...
PALady, I am glad you are feeling a little better after your procedures. I know that can knock you down for a few days until your system returns to normal. How do you feel about the proposed...
Thank you all for responding to my post. I think it was either a false alarm or a wake up call. I have been overdoing some things lately. A combination of yardwork and modelmaking that puts me in...
I replied to the email. My position is this (and you don't have to agree with me): The FDA does not have a good track record of reducing drug abuse through their controls. I am all for controlling...
Hello 1Decman, Welcome to the CP forum. We are a close family of folks all sharing the plague of chronic pain in one form or another. I hope through our experiences we can offer some experience that...
I am really down today. I was up and down most of last night with a stabbing pain in my left thigh going to the knee. This one is familiar. I had it about 10 years ago and ended up having a...
Kaycie, I was in the process of responding when I got bumped off. I was say that coming down at a rate of 20-25% per week is usually what docs recommend. From 8 per day you would go to 6.5 a day for...
PALady, Best wixhes for an uneventful set of procedures on Monday. I know this is unpleasant, especially the prep for the colonoscopy, but if you get past that the worst is over. I hope everything...
Dear Mercy, I agree with all of the responses from our group to date on this thread. As for residual nerve pain in the leg, that is to be expected for a while. The nerve has been irritated and...
PALady, Yep, I know all about private insurance. When I was first injured and had the fusion surgery I went out of work on a long term disability. I explored private insurance and couldn't even get...
PALady, I am so sorry to hear of all the pain you are going through, not just the back pain. Just the stress of having to deal with confrontational issue (the handiman) and the uncertainty of...
Hello Soundslide, I have been on the oxy roller coaster for a number of years. My doc recommends a taper off rate of 20% per week. Perhaps a little less in the first few weeks. Like 15% per week and...
Pete, Contratulations to you! I know that had to be a tough decision. But you have to be happy with what you do and you were definately not (from your posts) happy with the job or (mostly) whacko...
Shaw, I agree with PALady (as I usually do, she has good instincts and experience). Your PM doc would probably not change your dosages for dental work. If he increased the dosages you are on now you...
The DEA has some very specific and sometimes not too logical rules for narcotics dispensing. Don't blame the pharmcist, he is just following the rules. Whether or not the rules make any sense is...
I think having a great family doc is very first and most important step in conquering any heath problem.. Also the best way to maintain good health over a lifetime. Too many people don't feel they...
PALady, Do you know why some posts are very wide and others are all in one screen? Is there any way to control the margins? It seems that once the thread is started all the subsequent posts are wide...
I finally went to bed at 6:00 AM but back up at 9:00. I don't know what is going on. Now I feel groggy like I'm drugged or something. Modelmaker...
Hi FatherJohn, One thing we all should do is check with the state medical board. They can't tell you how good the doc is but they can sure tell you if there have been any actions taken against him....
Well here I am, banging away at the computer. I have been up all night with pain and pain meds. Can't sleep a wink. Every so often this happens. I'll be dead on my feet in the day but now I am, more...
Hi Red, I have many nerves treated in my spine over the past 5 years. I don't know about abdominal pain and the location of those nerves but the nerves in the back are accessible by injection using a...
I'm with PAlady and Susie on PT, Most of the PT people I have been to do not know how to (or more to the point, not to) treat a patient with spinal fusion. They just don't seem to understand that...
Tony, Glad I could help Good luck to you in whatever your choice for stim. Please keep us informed as you go forward as I and perhaps others will be facing similar decisions in the near future....
Tony, I don not yet have a stim but I am a candidate and I have been doing lots of research. I am an electrical engineer so I am especially interested in the technology involved. What I have to say...
PAlady, When you say "failed fusion surgery" what does that mean? Did the bone graft not grow or was the fusion broken? Can it be repaired? I had a cracked or broken fusion and it was excrutiating....
After two weeks of high baro pressure, my neck of the woods has been slipping toward storms for the past several days. Each new day of lower pressure brimgs on my agony. Today it is nearly unbearable...
Hi Sarrah, At the risk of being rude or indelicate, could it be simple aging? My wife and I do that sort of thing frequently as do our friends from time to time. I will walk into a room and...
PALady, You seem to be very knowledgable on meds. Is/was that your professional field? In your opinion, for you, is Cymbalta more effective in pain managment than Effexor? I have not tried Cymbalta,...